"Although this week’s voting took place in only a third of Egypt’s provinces, they included some of the nation’s most liberal precincts — like Cairo, Port Said and the Red Sea coast — suggesting that the Islamist wave is likely to grow stronger as the voting moves into more conservative rural areas in the coming months"

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Do not fight with one another over my banning. I've enjoyed the time I have spent with all of you, but the time really has come for me to leave. It is what I want.

That was to be expected. After Tunisia there was really no hope Egypt could escape.

Let's still hope the Arab world will eventually experience a gradual and not too conflictful secularization framed by democratic institutions. Maybe it's a pipe dream, but it's worth hoping.

Sure, after you become a Ron Paul supporter.

It's not clear whether this will work in Egypt, but at least in Tunisia, it's pretty much guaranteed that at some point the Islamists will govern in an unpopular way and lose an election. Especially since, if you break out the seat totals, the secular parties got 86 seats total to Ennahda's 90 total (with a fair number of seats going to parties which don't obviously identify one way or another, and no parties really to Ennahda's right).

Edit: Those numbers are slightly off, were from when some of the Aridha Chaabia lists were still disqualified. Close enough, though.

The difference is that in Tunisia the Islamists have to form a coalition government with a social-liberal party.

A system in which the liberal party keeps the Islamists in check is preferable to a system in which the army keeps the Islamists in check.

Situation in Morocco is similar to Tunisia's btw, except there also the monarchy in addition to the secular parties with thom the Islamists have to govern now.

Might be true in Egypt, as well, as I don't think the Salafis and Muslim Brotherhood are fond of one another.

Also, given the fragmentation of the secular parties, I doubt Ennahda actually has to form a coalition with any of them. They could definitely run an ad hoc minority government. (Also, hesitant to call them all liberal, as the secular parties include things like the socialists and communists as well as the liberals, moderates and social democrats.)

The difference is that in Tunisia the Islamists have to form a coalition government with a social-liberal party.

A system in which the liberal party keeps the Islamists in check is preferable to a system in which the army keeps the Islamists in check.

Situation in Morocco is similar to Tunisia's btw, except there also the monarchy in addition to the secular parties with thom the Islamists have to govern now.

Might be true in Egypt, as well, as I don't think the Salafis and Muslim Brotherhood are fond of one another.

Also, given the fragmentation of the secular parties, I doubt Ennahda actually has to form a coalition with any of them. They could definitely run an ad hoc minority government. (Also, hesitant to call them all liberal, as the secular parties include things like the socialists and communists as well as the liberals, moderates and social democrats.)

Nobody in Tunisia wants a monolithic minority government which would be naturally unstable. It's exactly what a country exiting from dictatorship needs now.

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"The major political task that we face in the next five months is to make certain that Donald [Drumpf] is defeated and defeated badly."

Also, given the fragmentation of the secular parties, I doubt Ennahda actually has to form a coalition with any of them. They could definitely run an ad hoc minority government. (Also, hesitant to call them all liberal, as the secular parties include things like the socialists and communists as well as the liberals, moderates and social democrats.)

Well, I was specifically referring to the Congress for the Republic which has become the second-largest party, and together with Ennahda they've got a majority.

Also, last thing I heard was that Ennahda gets the premiership, and the Congress for the Republic the presidency in the new government.

That was to be expected. After Tunisia there was really no hope Egypt could escape.

Let's still hope the Arab world will eventually experience a gradual and not too conflictful secularization framed by democratic institutions. Maybe it's a pipe dream, but it's worth hoping.

Sure, after you become a Ron Paul supporter.

It's not clear whether this will work in Egypt, but at least in Tunisia, it's pretty much guaranteed that at some point the Islamists will govern in an unpopular way and lose an election. Especially since, if you break out the seat totals, the secular parties got 86 seats total to Ennahda's 90 total (with a fair number of seats going to parties which don't obviously identify one way or another, and no parties really to Ennahda's right).

Edit: Those numbers are slightly off, were from when some of the Aridha Chaabia lists were still disqualified. Close enough, though.

I wouldn't be concerned about Islamists in Tunisia. First of all, it't very unlikely they can do much on their own. Second of all, when compared to, let's say, Muslim Brotherhoods they're a bunch of liberals

The hypocrisy of this forum jumping down peoples' throats every time they suggest democracy isn't the greatest thing ever and then complaining when the Egyptians elect the party that best represents their views is disgusting.

At least I am consistent in not being a fan of democracy and being displeased by this result.

« Last Edit: December 01, 2011, 05:33:26 pm by On That Midnight Cain to Georgia... »

This is the Egypt that 30 years of Mubarak rule created. If he ever tried to turn Egypt from political Islamism, he clearly failed with his brittle regime. The MB has the hearts and minds. What does that say about Mubarak?

The hypocrisy of this forum jumping down peoples' throats every time they suggest democracy isn't the greatest thing ever and then complaining when the Egyptians elect the party that best represents their views is disgusting.

I don't think anybody has said either of those things, much less the same person...so uhhh...cite?